Theater.



.323. P'ATENTED OUT. 2, 1906.

ALBERT KAUTZKY & ANTON KAUTZKY.

THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAILB, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

., WASHINGTON, n d.

No. 832,323. PATENTED 0012,1906.

ALBERT KAUTZKY & ANTON KAUTZKY.

THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 19 06.

z exams-mam a.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE...

ALBERT KAUTZKY AND ANTON KAUTZKY, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA- HUNGARY, ASSIGNORS ONE-THIRD TO ADOLF LUDVVIG MASCHL, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

THEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.v

Patented Oct.. 2, 1906.

Application filed January 3, 1905. Serial No. 239,382.

To all whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT KAUTZKY and ANTON KAUTZKY, engineers, subjects of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented new and useful Improvements in Theaters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable otl1- ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to theaters, and has for its object to so construct the same that a panic on the outbreak of fire or for any other reason is obviated. To this end the theater is constructed of several independent parts each of which is easily accessible, such parts being the stage, auditorium, and one or more sliding structures'arranged between these two parts and normally locked in position, but being released on the outbreak of fire or on any other danger impending,so that the said structure or structures can be withdrawn from the other parts of the theater. In this manner a complete separation is effected between the stage and the auditorium, and an exit extending over the whole width of the theater is simultaneously obtained, through which exit the smoke and gases generated can also freely escape.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a theater con structed according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view show ing the roof of the theater. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the theater with the intermediate structures withdrawn. elevation and a section, respectively, of a part of the roof, acting also as a fireproof curtain for the stage; and Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views of a modification thereof.

Between the auditorium 1 and the stage 2 I which are independent structures having a space between them and each of which is independently illuminated, there are introduced the intermediate structures 3 and 4. Each of these structures is independent and is preferably of iron, with its own inlet, stairway, and illumination, and is mounted upon rollers 5 or the like, the said rollers running Figs. 5 and 6 are an upon the inclined planes 6, extending from the fioor of the auditorium to the outside of the theater. In the normal position the two intermediate structures 3 and 4 are introduced between the stage 2 and the auditorium 1 and are anchored in position by suitable means, such as chains 7.

The roofing ofthe auditorium, of the stage, and. of the two intermediate structures is effected in the usual manner and independently. The portion which is not covered by these parts is inclosed by a roof 8, suspended to the proscenium, the said roof being supported upon the intermediate structures and engaging with the proscenium and the auditorium. This movablyarranged roof 8 when it is deprived of the support of the intermediate structures 3 and 4 provides a curtain or partition for the stage-front 9, if made of the proper dimensions. In order that the drop of the said roof shall not be dangerous to the audience and also in order that the distance between the auditorium and the stage shall not be too great, the said curtain or roof is made of a number of parts, which may, for example, be normally overlapping or folded (see Figs. 7 and 8) and be released, so as to open out when the roof has dropped in front of the proscenium.

In order to reduce the impact of the roof with the proscenium and to obviate the liability of damage to the stage under the heavy weight of the roof, the said roof is counterbalanced, the correspondingly heavy stageshaft cover 10 being advantageously fitted to the top thereof for this purpose. Instead of making the roof of a number of overlapping parts the said parts can be arranged telescopically, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

. In the case of an outbreak of fire" the chains 7 are released, whereby the two intermediate structures 3 and 4 are freed and either roll down the inclined planes 6 under the action of their own weight, and preferably upon rails on which the rollers 5 run, or can be withdrawn. By the removal of the two intermediate structures a wide space is provided between the stage and auditorium, which enables the theater to be quickly emptied and through which the smoke generated by the fire can quickly escape. The portion of the roof 8 which rests upon the intermediate structures is on the withdrawal of these structures freed, so that it drops downward and opens out. The length of the device is such that the lowermost section enters a slit 11, provided in front of the footlights, so that the bottom of the curtain is thus held, the said lowermost section in the case of a stage-fire being pressed against the slit by the smoke and gases generated, which can escap e through the opening 12, provided by the raising of the aforesaid shaft-cover 10. With this construction the theater in a moment of danger is uickly divided into two independ' ent parts, etween which a wide space is obtained, the said space being opened to the auditorium, but closed to the stage, so that a complete isolation of the part at which a conflagrationusually startsnamely, the stage is effected.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. A theater, comprising a stage, an auditorium arranged independent thereof, movable structures independent of said stage and auditorium, and a curtain connected with the stage and supported by the movable structures to form a roof over the same, said stage, auditorium and movable structures in conjunction with said curtain adapted to form the theater and said movable, structures adapted when actuated to separate the stage from the auditorium and to form passageways or outlets between the same and to per mit of descent of the curtain in front of the stage.

2. A theater, comprising a stage having an opening, an auditorium arranged independent thereof, movable structures independent of said stage and auditorium, and interposed between the same, and a sectional curtain connected with the stage and normally resting on said movable structures to form a roof over the same, said stage, auditorium and movable structures in connection with said curtain adapted to form the theater, and said movable structures adapted when actuated to separate the stage from the auditorium to form passage-ways or outlets between the same and to permit of the descent of the sectional curtain to close the opening of the stage.

3. A theater, comprising a stage having an opening, an auditorium arranged independstructures independent of said stage and auditorium interposed between the same, a sectional. curtain connected with the stage and normally held in an inoperative. position by the movable structures andforming a roof over the same, said stage, auditorium and movable structures in connection with said curtain adapted to form the theater, means adapted to counterbalance said curtain and said movable structures adapted when actuated to separate the stagefrom the auditorium and to form passage-ways or outlets between the same and to permit of the descent of the sectional curtain to close the opening of the stage and to disconnect the same at its upper end from the auditorium. I

4. A theater, comprising a stage having an opening in its front and in its roof, an auditorium arranged independent thereof but adjacent thereto, movable structures independent of said stage and auditorium interposed between the same, means adapted to hold the movable structures in their operative position at each end of the stage and auditorium, means adapted to permit of a free movement of the same when released to move away from the stage and auditorium, a sectional curtain connected with the stage structure and normally held in an inoperative position by the movable structures and forming a roof over the same, means for counterbalancing the curtain and closing the opening in the roof of the stage in the inoperative position of the curtain, said stage, auditorium and movable structures in conjunction with said ourtain adapted to form the theater, and said movable structures adapted when actuated to form passage-ways or outlets between the same and permit of the descent of the sectional curtain and ofthe raising of the means connected therewith to close the opening in front of the stage by the curtain and of the freeing of the opening in the roof by the means connected therewith. I

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT KAUTZKY. ANTON KAUTZKY. Witnesses:

WENZEL SNIKEFORD,

ent thereof but adjacent thereto, movable ALVESTO S. HOGUE. 

